There are a lot of get rich quick schemes to entice those with dreams of living financially free. Some people play the lottery while others play the stock market. What does God say about them?

Background:

The book of Proverbs is sometimes called a wisdom book. It compares the acts of a wise person with a “fool”. In Bible terms, a fool is anybody who lacks wisdom and doesn’t seek enlightenment. In the case of this verse, there is a comparison made between the person who works hard and the person who doesn’t but the meaning goes much deeper. There are numerous applications outside of the financial realm but the application to your money is powerful.

Study:

There’s a poisonous and destructive mindset gaining popularity in our culture today. It’s easily seen in the increasing popularity of casinos, online gambling, and the lottery. It’s condoned and encouraged in the financial media with the advent of day traders and others who commit their hard earned money to the stock market without expertise on how to invest. The poison is the idea of getting rich quickly.

Ask yourself this: have you met anybody who created long term wealth by gambling? By day trading? By any one of the get rich schemes like Amway or other pyramid schemes? In Proverbs 13:11, God verifies what we already know. There is no practical way to get rich quickly. A select few will start a company that will take off resulting in fast riches but that’s the exception rather than the rule.

The path to financial prosperity (which may or may not mean large amounts of money) is slow. It will take hard work and sacrifice. It takes investment in yourself often through formal education or years of experience, and networking with others in the field to move up the ranks.

When we’re desperate, we’ll often try anything regardless of how stacked the odds are against us. No matter where you are with your finances, understand that there is no way to build wealth quickly and with little work. The better it sounds, the less likely you are to come out a winner. Think about this: If it were so easy, why wouldn’t everybody do it? Why wouldn’t it be a headline on every newscast and every respected website? Don’t fall for the tricks.

Action:

Maybe you’ve spent your last dollar and maybe you don’t have any idea where the next paycheck will come from. Maybe you have children to feed, bills to pay, and bill collectors calling. The good news is this: we serve a God that turns hopelessness into hope.

God often asks us to act opposite of what we believe is right and our finances are no different. When you’re in a financial emergency, give. God invites us to test Him. If we tithe, He will bless.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” -Malachi 3:10

Instead of looking to get rich quick schemes like the lottery, casinos, or even trying to make fast money in the stock market, remember that you’re a Christian. God will provide. Even if your situation seems dire, God will provide if you take the first step. Financially prosperous Christians combine good financial choices with faithful tithing.

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About The Author

Tim Parker is the founder of BibleDollar.com. BibleDollar.com is a site dedicated to Christian education and discussion of God-glorifying ways to manage both our money and our attitudes toward it. BibleDollar is part of ECS, a company that provides print and online content to some of the largest financial outlets in the world. Find Tim on Twitter @expositioncreat